Boys Script A Horror Story

It is the time they should have been
attending online classes; seeking answers to their doubts from teachers in
their new classes; learning new lessons in core subjects; viewing presentations
and answering questions in virtual class tests. But scores of boys from Delhi schools
focused on a different plan, secret to the core. They formed a group on
Instagram, gave it a bizarre name ‘Bois Locker Room; up
loaded pictures of girls, not unknown ones, but their own
friends. They started discussing the most unthinkable topics by children of
their age – body parts of the girls; made lewd comments and demeaning remarks;
planned how to gang-rape them. More students were added to the group, though
some claimed they were added without their consent. Luckily, their weird game
plan came to an abrupt end when the cyber cell of police got wind of it and
arrested some of the ‘villains’.

Most of the students, according to reports,
are from top-rated, accomplished schools. What comes out of the whole episode
is the sick mindset with which a young generation is growing up. The misogynic
comments exchanged among the Instagram group members is a pointer to their
mentality of objectifying female bodies, an extremely dangerous development. They
are falling prey to a ‘rape culture’ being witnessed around them. They have not
imbibed the value of gender equality and respect for their female counterparts.
They are inclined to indulge in sexual violence instead of seeing girls on equal
pedestal.

The ‘locker room’ episode should open the
eyes of both school authorities and parents. Schools have to work out a
strategy, making it part of the curriculum, by which teenaged students are
taught on the rights and wrongs of sexual behaviour. Lack of proper sex
education is making them to turn to porn sites to satiate their curiosity. They
should be educated on gender equality and the horrible results of ‘macho’
dominance. Unless they are warned about the legal and ethical consequences of
their wayward behaviour, they might be tricked into social media groups by
unscrupulous elements. Most of the accused in the ‘locker room’ incident are
minors. The parents also have a crucial role to play in developing in their sons
the right attitude to girls. Boys should be cautioned against sexualization of
girls which can tie their life in perennial knots.

Responsible internet usage is the key to
prevent a repeat of ‘locker rooms’. The operators of social media groups like
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat should develop some inbuilt
mechanism which would not promote sexual violence and exploitation of women. If
the boys do not fall in line, the system should make it difficult for them to
cross the
Lakshman Rekha. Social media platforms cannot wash their hands
of the misuse of the technology. They have moral and legal responsibility to safeguard
the privacy of every individual.

The comments by the mother of a victim in the
‘locker room’ episode is revealing. Quoting her daughter, she said: “Girls used
to firmly believe that boys respect women and no one would violate them. It is
absolutely heartbreaking to see now how their trust has been broken.” The boys
who stoop to the level of sexual predators will have to pay a heavy price for
breaking this trust.